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(No Model.) 3 SheetS-Sheet 1. P. B. COCHRAN. COIN ACTUATED VBNDING MACHINE.

Patented June 5, 1894..

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. B. COCHRAN. COIN ACTUATED VENDING MACHINE.

No. 520,769. Patented June 5, 1894.

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P. 'B. COCHRAN. COIN ACTUA'I'ED VBNDING MACHINE. No. 520,769.v Patented June 5, 1894.

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Y h E E MM/wm 1MM/who Y Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

FREERIC B.v COCHRAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC VENDING COMPANY.

COIN-ACTUATED VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,769, dated June 5, l1894.

' Application filed March 7,1893. Seria1No.4.64,968. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC B. COCHRAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coiu-Actuated Vending-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and

` exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus popularly known as automatic vending machines, which operate to deliver merchandise, such as chocolate, confections, chewing gum, cigarettes, pamphlets and other articles, when a coin of the denomination representing the value of the goods to be delivered is passed into the machine by a purchaser, and the object of my invention is the provision of a simple, compact, durable and inexpensive apparatus which will operate with reliability and efficiency.

To this end my invention consists in the novel features and construction, combination and arrangement of parts and details hereinafter described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of my improved apparatus, partly in section on the line 1-1 (Fig. 2). Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section on the i line 2-2 (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation on a larger scale on the line 3-3 (Fig. 2). Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 3-3, but shows the parts in a dilferent position. Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevation on the line 5-5 (Fig. 2). Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the delivery slide showing the coin pocket and the means of supporting the coin therein; and Fig. 8 is a cross section thereof on the line 8 8 (Fig. 7).

The casing or boxA of the machine is preferably made of wood, and the front of it is closed by means of an upper door A hinged at the top to the casing, a lower door A2 hinged at its lower end to the casing, and a flanged plate A3 sliding in grooves in the case A, and provided witha coin aperture 0r apertures a. The downturned flange of the plate A3 engages with the upper swinging end of Y above the other on a platform B.

the door A2, and thus prevents the door A2 from being opened without sliding the plate A3 forward a considerable distance. The upturned iiange of the plate A3 fits in behind the lower end of the door A so that the plate A cannot be slid forward to release the door A2 so long as the door A is fastened in place. A lock a', of which the bolt is preferably arranged to pass through a slot in the plate A3 and behind a keeper secured to the frame of the machine, is attached to the door A. Thus, while the entire front of the case may be instantly thrown open to afford access to the interior of the machine, the parts are all securely held in place by one lock only. A glazed opening a2 is' provided in the lower portion of the door section A. This opening is directly in front of the goods contained in the machine, and permits them to be seen while the case is closed.

Inside the case A is a compartment or chute B for the goods or articles C to be sold. These articles, which may be confectionery, chewing gum and the like, are preferably prepared in oblong cakes or tablets, and are supported one Below the chute B is the delivery chute B2, which communicates with the goods chute B through a small opening at the back of the lower end of the goods chute, such opening being of just sufficient size to permit (under the action of the delivery slide to be presently explained) 'the passage of the bottom cake or tablet C from the goods chute to the delivery chute. The tablet thus entering the delivery chute is carried by its own weight to or near the opening B3 in the front of the case, through which the fingers of the purchaser may be inserted to remove the tablet.

The goods chute B extends to within a short distance of the top of the case, and may be' made of any height desired, its length depending only on the height of the machine, and the tablets C are placed therein one above the other, sufficient space being left between the top of the chute and the top of the case for that purpose. Flanges b project partly across the front of the chute, so that after being put' in the top of the chute the tablets can only be pushed out of it through the small opening at the back of the lower end thereof into the delivery chute as above described. A weight b of the proper size to slide freely in the chute B rests on the top of the pile of tablets for the purpose ot holding them Iirmly down on the platform. The weight b is provided with a pin or stud b2 on its under side for a purpose to be presently explained. The delivery slide D is provided with a thin extension or tongue D ot' about the thickness of one of the tablets C. Aslot d of suiicient size to receive the pin h2 is formed in the inner end of the tongue D'. For convenience of construction the tongue D' is usually made in a separate piece from the body D2 of the delivery slide, and is rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. The delivery slide D is mounted to slide on the rods E, so that under proper conditions it may be reciprocated from end to end of the stationary frame F, which supports the operative parts of the apparatus, and which is tirmly secured in the case A. The inner ends of these rods E are preferably screwed into the frame F, and their outer ends are slotted so that the rods may be readily screwed into place, thus permitting lthe delivery slide and all portions of the apparatus connected therewith to be readily removed by simply unscrewing the rods E. The actuating slide or rod G is mounted to reciprocate in the delivery slide D through holes formed in the end pieces of the body D2. The inner end of the actuating rod G is reduced in size, and is preferably provided with a tapered point. When the coin pocket, to be presently described, is empty, the inner movement of the rod Gis limited by the stop m4. The outer end of the rod G is enlarged in size and projects through the door A2 beyond the front of the case. A stop g on the rod G limits its outward movement, and also serves, under certain conditions, to lock the operating slide or rod G and the delivery slide together on their outward movement. A retractil@ spring g is secured at one end to the rod G, and at the other end to a hook f secured to the stationary frame F. This spring g' being at all times under tension normally holds the stop g firmly against the outer end piece of the delivery slide body D2, which in turn is held `irmly against the outer end of frame F as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The coin pocket H, which is formed in the delivery slide D, is normally directly under the coin admitting aperture a, as shown in Fig. 3. When the tongue D and the body D2 are constructed in separate pieces, as illustrated herein, this pocket is usually formed by providing the tongue D with two downwardly projecting parts or legs d', which are fitted against the rear face of the body D2. The distance between the legs d is slightly greater than the diameter ofthe coin by which the machine is intended to be operated, and they are provided with flanges cl2 which overlap the coin h. The coin, when of proper thickness and diameter, is supported in place between the legs d by a yielding coin supporting pin I, which projects from the face of the body D2. This pin is arranged at one side of the coin pocket and at a distance from the opposite side very slightly less than the diameter of the coin by which it is intended to operate the machine. The pin is also ad justed so that the distance between its point and the nearest of the flanges d2 is only very slightly less than the thickness of a coin of proper denomination, so that a coin or disk of less diameter or less thickness than that of a coin of the proper denomination will not be arrested by the pin I, but will pass between the flanges and the end of the piu directly into the coin box J, which is suitably supported within the case A, and to which access is had through door A2. As has been stated, when no coin is in the coin pocket II, the actuating slide may be recprocated independently of the delivery slide and without moving it, the inner face of the body D2 ot' the delivery slide being apertured to perL mit such movement of the actuating slide. But if a coin of proper size be inserted through the coin admitting slot a it will fall into place in the coin pocket directly opposite the aper ture through which the rod G plays, and when the actuating rod is pressed in, its end will abut against the coin which, while the pressure continues, will thus be clamped firmly between the end of the rod and the flanges (Z2, thus locking the delivery slide and the actuating slide or rod together. The inward movement of the actuating rod will thus cause the tongue D of the delivery slide to enter the goods chute and push the lowest one of the tablets C from under the pile through the opening at the back of the goods chute into the delivery chute B2, whence it may be removed through the opening B3. As soon as the delivery slide has thus ejected the tablet, it will have reached the inward limit of its movement in the frame F, and by releasing the pressure on the actuating rod, the coin is dropped into the cash box, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The pin I slides in suitable bearings d3formcd in the body D2 of the delivery slide, and carries a sleevez' which is rigidly secured to said piu by the set screw t. The sleeve t' forms a shoulder which abuts against the rear bearing d3 and limits the distance which said pin I projects under the coin pocket. A retractile spring t2 normally holds the end of sleeve t' against said bearing and maintains the pin I in position so that its end projects under the coin pocket to support the coin. The set screw t" permits the sleeve-i to be adjusted so that the extent of said projection may be regulated and fixed as desired. The sleeve 't' is provided with two projecting arms or rods 2 and 4. The arm i3 extends outwardly from the sleeve in a horizontal direction, and the arm 4 extends upwardly. An upwardly projecting stopf is carried by frame F, which when the delivery slide D is pushed inwardly will be struck by the arm i3, thus arresting the movement of the pin I carried by said slide, so that as the IOC IIO

movement of the slide is continued beyond this point, the pin I being held back, its end will no longer project beyond the face of the delivery slide body, and the coin will be no longer supported by the end of pin I, but will not fall as it is clamped between the end of the actuating rod G and the flanges d2. The upper part of the delivery slide body D2 is provided with an extension d4 which serves as a support for the bent or curved lever-K, which is pivoted thereto, and which engages with the end of the arm i4. The curved end of lever K extends across the top of the channel through which the coin passes on its way. to the coin pocket, in such position that when a coin of proper size is inserted therein, that end of the lever will be forced over toward the side of said channel, and the arm 714 the end of which lies in the elbow formed by the bent end of the lever, will be moved so that the end of pin I will be drawn back behind the face of the delivery slide body, but will return to position again under the action of spring i2 as soon as the coin passes the lever and in time to prevent the coin from dropping through the coin pocket. By this means the coin pocket is automatically opened by the insertion of the coin, and anything which may have been improperly inserted in it will drop through into the coin box before the. coin falls into place in the pocket. e

A friction spring L is secured to the under side of the frame F. This friction springlies in the path of the front end piece of the delivery slide body, andis arrangedto be in contact with it during a portion of the movement of the delivery slide, and also when the slide reaches the end of its rearward movement. The object of this spring is to retard the return movement of the slides sufficiently to obviate the shock which would be otherwise caused by the sudden release of the operating rod, and also to hold the delivery slide in a stationary position until the stop g on the actuating rod strikes the end of the delivery slide body on the release of the operating rod.

On the inner end of frame F is mounted a bracket M which carries the series'of hooks m, m', fm2. These hooks are pivoted'to said bracket at their inner ends, and by means of a spring m3 secured to the inner end of each hook and pressing against the bracket M are normally maintained in horizontal position against the stop m4. These hooks are formed separately, and are preferably of different lengths, and are pivoted so that the outer end of each may beraised independentlyof the others. They lie in the path of the coin, and as the coin is carried rearwardlyit will raise each hook separately by striking their inclined outer ends, and after passing the point of each hook, the hook under the action of spring m3 will fall into place again, so that as long as the coin is held in proper position in the coin pocket, the hooks will prevent its being carried back on the return movement of the delivery slide. The inward movement -of the deliveryV slide is not interfered with by the hooks nvr-m2, which as the slide is carried in, pass through a slot d5 formed in the rear end piece of the slide body as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The frame F also supports a projection or stop N, over which the coin is carried on its inward movement, and should it happen that the coin drops sufficiently to clear the hooks m-mz, it will strike the stop N. The hooks m, m', m2, and the stop N render it impossible to cheat the machine by using the same coin twice, because the ycoin must pass the hooks before the tablet is ejected from the goods chute. The coin admitting slot a is preferably formed just wide enough and long enoughto admit a coin of the proper size, thus preventing the admission of coins of larger size, which might choke the machine and render it inoperative.

Many modifications in form and details may be made in the above described apparatus without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it will be perceived that the internal mechanism of the machine may` be duplicated to any desired extent and inclosed in one case, so that two, three, four or more different articles maybe sold by one machine. It will also be understood that articles other than those named herein may be sold by the machine, but as the adaptation of the mechanism for such purpose could be readily made by any skilled mechanic, it is unnecessary to enter into a detailed description thereof. The operation of the machine is as follows, the normal position of the apparatus being shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. If a coin hof the proper size be pressed through the coin slot d, the curved end of lever K will be thrown over toward the side of the slot, throwing back the pin I as before described, and clearing the coin pocket by permitting anything which may have been inserted therein to drop through into the cash box; but the end of pin I will, under action of spring i2, be thrown out under the entering coin as soon as it clears the lever, and will intercept it and support it in position opposite the end of the actuating rod G. The operator now passes in the actuating rod by applying pressure to the projecting end thereof, and the inner end of said rod, striking the coin, forces it against the iianges d2. The delivery slide and actuating rod are thus locked, and the further inward movement of the actuating rod will move the delivery slide in the same direction, until the inner end of the' delivery slide strikes the inner end of frame F, and further movement of the slide and rod is prevented. Meanwhile the tongue D has been carried in over the platform B', and has forced the lowest tablet out from under the pile into the delivery chute B2 as before explained. During the inward movement of the delivery slide, the arm 3 on the sleeve carried by pin I will strike the stop f on the frame F, and thus the further movement of pin'I being ar- IOO rested, as the delivery slide is carried in the end of the pin I will be drawn in behind the inner face of the delivery slide, and will afford no support for the coin during the further travel of the slide in that direction; but the coin will be held firmly in place between the end of the actuating rod and the flanges d2, until the tablet is ejected from the goods chute, as above described. As soon however as this occurs, and the actuating rod is relieved from pressure, it will be drawn back by spring g', releasing,r the coin, which will then drop into the cash box J. The delivery slide after striking the inner end of frame F will be held at that point by the friction spring. L, which exerts a yielding pressure against the under surface of the outer end piece of the slide, until the stop g on the actuating rod on its return movement strikes the outer end of the delivery slide. This will lock the actuating rod and delivery slide together so that the latter will be carried back to the front end of the frame F under the action of spring g', such spring being of sutiicient power to overcome the frictional resistance of spring L. When the delivery slide has thus been returned to its normal position, the tongue D has been drawn out from under the goods chute, and if the same is iilled or partly filled, the pile will descend and another tablet will fall into position in the path of the tongue, to be ejected by the next inward movement of the delivery slide. Vhen the last tablet is forced out from under the weight b', the pin Z22 formed thereon will fall into the slot d formed in the inner end of the tongue D', thereby locking the delivery slide and preventing its return to its normal position. This renders it impossible to insert any money in the machine when the goods have all been sold.

The operation of the hooks m, m', m2 and the stop N has already been fully described, and it is only necessary to add that they positively prevent the return of the delivery slide sulhciently to allow a second tablet to fall upon the platform B so long as the coin by which the preceding tablet was ejected remains in the coin pocket, hence until the coin is dropped into the cash box, it is impossible to obtain another tablet from the machine. Where the machine is operated properly, the coin will be dropped before the delivery slide starts to return, and it would seem that these hooks are unnecessary; but without said hooks, or equivalent mechanism, by relieving the operating rod from pressure very suddenly, the return of the parts is so quick that the coin might fail to drop; and in that event a second piece of goods could be obtained with the same coin. This contingency is entirely obviated by the employment of said hooks, which are arranged in different vertical planes, and are mounted to move independently of each other, whereby if the rst or shortest hook should fail to arrest the coin, the second and third would bein position to do so, while as before explained, if the coin should fall suliciently to escape the hooks, it would be held by the stop N.

The object of tapering the inner end of the operating rod is to prevent the mechanism from being operated by disks of pasteboard, or other similarsubstances. If a disk of such substance be placed in the coin pocket, the tapered end of the rod will puncture it when it is pressed in, and the delivery slide will not be actuated, while if the end of the rod were provided with a large bearing surface, the pasteboard might offer a suiicient resistance to enable the machine to be operated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of a reciprocating delivery slide, a coin pocket formed therein, an actuating rod arranged to reciprocate in bearings formed in the delivery slide, an aperture in the delivery slide, opposite the coin pocket, through which the actuating rod plays, whereby when the coin pocket is empty the actuating rod may be reciprocated without moving the coin pocket from its normal position, and a retractile spring for maintaining the delivery slide and actuating rod in position substantially as shown and described.

2. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of a reciprocating delivery slide, an actuating rod arranged to reciprocate in bearings formed in the delivery slide, a coin pocket formed in the delivery slide, a support carried by and moving with the delivery slide for supporting the coin in the coin pocket in the path of the actuating rod, mechanism for withdrawing said support from under the coin on the inward movement of the delivery slide, and a retractile spring for maintaining the delivery slide and actuating rod in position, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of the delivery slide having a coin pocket formed therein, a yielding pin normally projecting under the coin pocket to support the coin therein, a reciprocating actuating rod playing in the delivery slide and arranged to hold the coin in the pocket when lIO pressed inwardly, and to release the samet when such pressure is removed, and a stop arranged to engage with and arrest the movement of the coin supporting pin during the inward movement of the delivery slide, whereby the coin is supported in the coin pocket solely by the actuating rod as the delivery slide approaches the limit of its inward movement, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of the delivery slide formed with the tongue D and body D2, a coin pocket formed in said slide, a yielding spring pressed pin carried by said slide, a stop for arresting the movement of said pin when the slide is moved inwardly, an actuating rod carried by said slide and arranged to reciprocate therein in line with the coin when the latter is in its normal position in the coin pocket, a stop on said rod engaging with the delivery slide, and a retractile spring connected with said rod,

substantially as shown and described.

5. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of a frame mounted in the casing of the machine, rods carried by said frame, a delivery slide mounted to reciproate on said rods,adelivery vslidet'ormed with he tongue D and body D2, a coin pocket `rmed in said slide, a yielding spring pressed `n carried by said slide, a stop for arresting e movement of said pin when the slide is oved inwardly, an actuating rod carried by said slide and arranged to reciprocate therein, in line with the coin when the latter is in its normal position in the coin pocket, a stop on said rod engaging with the delivery slide and a retractile spring connected with said rod, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a coin actuated vending apparatus the combination of a reciprocating delivery slide having a. slotted tongue, an actuating rod arranged to reciprocate in bearings formed in the delivery'slide, a goods chute and a sliding weight in the goods chute provided with a pin or projection co-operating with the slot in the delivery slide to lock the delivery slide when the goods chute is emptied, substantially as shown and described.

7. Inacoin pocket clearing device for vending machines, the combination of a lever projecting across the coin admitting slot so as to be actuated by the insertion of the coin, a yielding pin normally projecting under the coin pocket, and connections substantially as describedbetween said pin and said lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of the delivery slide having a coin pocket formed therein, a lever pivoted to said slide and projecting over the top of the coin pocket, a spring pressed pin normally projecting under the coin pocket, an

arm secured to said pin and engaging with said lever, whereby as the lever is actuated by the insertion of a coin, the progecting end of the pin is withdrawn from under the'coin pocket, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of a hinged door closing the upper section of the case, a hinged door closing the lower section of the case, an intermediate sliding plate provided with a coin admitting slot and with a downwardly extending flange engaging with the lower door, and with an upwardly extending flange engaging with the upper door, and a lock on the upper door, substantially as shown and described. I

10. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of the reciprocating delivery slide, the reciprocating actuating rod, a coin pocket formed in the delivery slide, a yielding catch arranged in the path of the coin'to prevent the return of the delivery slide while the coin is in its normal position in the coin pocket, and a stop below the normal path of the coin, to engage with the coin and block the outward movement of the delivery slide in case the coin falls below its normal position in the coin pocket, substantially as' shown and described.

l1. In a coin actuated vending machine, the combination of a delivery slide having a coin pocket formed therein, an operating rod playing in the delivery slide, a stop for locking the slide and rod on their return movement, a retractile spring secured tosaid rod for returning the rod and slide to their normal position, and aIfriction spring arranged to engage with the slide when the slide is in position to deliver the coin, whereby the return movement of the slide is retarded until the slide and rod are locked by said stop, substantially as shown and described.

FREDERIC B. COCHRAN.

Witnesses:

S. G. METCALF, WM. W. SHAW. 

